Why do all good things come to an end?

hello

It's December 20th, and a lot has happened since I last wrote...

Thursday night I got back from my last but amazing trip to Dublin. We were there from Sunday to Thursday. I was talking with Priyanka and we both agreed that going back to Ireland was the best idea for our last trip here abroad. Dublin was a great city, a lot different from Cork, but still Ireland which I've fallen in love with. We (and when I say we I mean Priyanka, myself, Mariana, Trey, and Paul) did not have much of an agenda while we were there which made it feel like a true vacation. A few hot spots we saw though were: Trinity College, the Guiness Factory (so awesome!), St. Stephen's Green park (practically the central park of Dublin) which we actually spent time reading there, the spire, a christmas market, and of course the pubs. Dublin is a cute city, but it was very cold and mostly rainy/a bit snowy while we were there. Each day was spent with one or two things in mind of doing, otherwise we spent the trip laughing, reminiscing about our semester, and spending some time at some good restaurants and pubs or warming up in our hostel.

The hospitality of the Irish (as well as the English language...) always wins my heart. I loved the small city as well as medieval aspect of Dublin. It was tourist friendly. A street we came across often was called Graton Street, which had holiday lights up illuminating the street and really getting me ready for Christmas. The city was always alive every day and night. We didn't get the Irish pasture feel like we did in Cork, but it's still Ireland, and I hope to go back as soon as possible.

Mariana, Priyanka, Paul, me, Trey all having a blast in an Irish pub.

We made it back after an exhausting day of traveling on Thursday (over 4 hours of waiting in our hostel to go to the airport, an hour long taxi ride to the airport, 1 1/2 hour plane ride, hour long bus ride and 40 minute metro ride that got me home by midnight.)

The next day was devoted to packing since Saturday morning was time for Mihee, Priyanka and I to move out of our apartment.

It was hard packing up everything from the past four months into my suitcases, and definitely was a day for reminiscing. I couldn't, and still can't believe everything has come to an end out here. I even sold back my bike after riding it up icy streets to Montemarte in the freezing weather to the bike store.

Right now I'm sitting in my friends cozy apartment writing this with snow visible on the rooftops outside. I remember writing a while ago that I hoped to see snow fall here in Paris before I left... Earlier today Mariana and I went to get something to eat and the snow was falling so quietly with giant snowflakes sticking to our hair. It was truly amazing to see this. I'm in Montemarte right now which only amplifies the beauty... Unfortunately I've been inside for the majority of the day due to the freezing weather, but yesterday I had a great day walking around the shops with Mariana. We ate dinner together at a delicious restaurant nearby. Tonight it's back to my hostel to repack my bags and go to bed. Tomorrow a 7:45 am shuttle is coming to pick me up and bring me to the airport for my travels home, hopefully stress free (at least compared to getting here in August...)

I haven't heard from many people from home lately because I've been so busy, but it's so crazy to know that everyone's semester is over, they're all at home celebrating the holidays with their families, which I'm so close to gripping as well. I look forward to seeing everyone and hearing their stories from the past few months, as well as them asking a few of mine. This semester abroad is the best thing that's ever happened to me and I will always recommend it for the younger ones who have the chance to do so. I checked my grades the other day, and I'm proud to say I'm bringing home all A's with me! Who knew I'd be able to travel all of these countries as well as maintain my school work. :-) At first no one was believing me I was still actually in school...

I am updating my photo folders right now, so if you go to the "final reviews" folder in my picasa website, you can see everyones final studio project up and hanging as well as our urban exploration projects. I hope to upload my songs and videos soon so you can see those as well.

I was trying to figure out what aspect I've improved on most while out here, and I believe above all it is patience. There were so many situations where patience was necessary.

Everyone knows how long an airplane ride takes... There's the commuting to the airport, checking in, going through security, getting on the plane, take off, in the air, landing, getting out of the airport...I've been in countless airports to get from one country to the next, not to mention the train rides, bus rides, metro rides, or taxi rides I've needed to hop on. Commuting in general is such a long process where only patience can get you through without going crazy.

Patience is also a virtue when you're getting to know 14 people you're with the entire semester. You don't realize how many people you have around you at home until they're not there. I love each person in my class to death, and I'm so glad I got to know them. Since they were people I never hung around with in Chicago, I had to learn to make them my family asap otherwise I was in deep trouble, and now as I go home I look forward to seeing each one of them on campus next semester and in the future years to come. I am in fact rooming with one of my close friends I made, Stacy, next semester.

I needed patience throughout the semester to get me through the moments I felt homesick or longed for someone who wasn't nearby. There is no more painful feeling (in my opinion) than missing someone or longing for them. The process of becoming emotionally independent was hard, and always will be, but I made it through the months now with the feeling I can go anywhere knowing how many people at home are hoping I am having a great time.

The feeling of missing someone is necessary, as it makes seeing them completely worth it in the end. I hope to continue to work on independence, as it's such an important thing in a person's life.

There is also the need to be patient getting used to other cultures, which I found difficult. As much as I love Paris, I could not consider myself becoming a Parisian, or French for that matter due to the difference in personalities (no harm in that statement, just the truth). I regret nothing from living here, as it taught me how different the lifestyle is from Chicago and other countries, and I look forward to trying out other lifestyles and cultures in the future.

Europe has made my eyes so much bigger and realize how small the world is. You can see and do anything you want to do, especially out here. I want to do everything possible in the small amount of time we're given in our lives... There are two quotes I live by that I've thought of out here.

"Life gets as interesting as you decide to make it"

and

"Life is infinite, but we are only capable of making the most of it with the time we're given."

I hope everyone agrees with those remotely, and you can live by them with me as well.

I'll see you all soon!

<3,

Becca

Two Weeks

It's December 9th. I go home the 21st. I am not going to lie, I've been extremely sad lately I'm on my final two week count (less than, now). My school finished successfully with two amazing days of reviews of our final projects, my parents are in town now, and I'm having constant flashbacks of the time I've had here. Since this is how I've been living the last four months, it's hard to imagine anything but. I of course miss and long for so many things in Chicago, but I keep looking around saying I'll be back soon. I have to.

Our finals ended very well, we had a long day of final reviews yesterday for our studio project, and Monday was devoted to our Urban Exploration projects. Some very prestigious architects came to critique/judge our work on Tuesday; some worked with Renzo Piano, Frank Gehry and Jean Nouvel. My board turned out beautifully and I've never been more proud of my work than I have this semester.

The final concept of my building is a water monument. I studied the Seine river, noticed there was a long line of monuments along the river, and placed my building near the Eiffel tower to add yet another monument to Paris' fine line. The shape of the skin of my building takes the shape of water, and the programming/movement of my building (from traveling to stationary) is almost like a wave frozen in time. The kitchen is surrounded in glass, as if it were on display in a glass case, similar to any object and piece of art in a museum. The glass panels are there to continue the movement of water along the surface of the building, as well as give the restaurant goer a contemporary view back to the Eiffel tower.

view of the kitchen on display

view from the mezzanine to the kitchen and beyond to the eiffel tower

view from the glass panels

a night shot inside the bar area of my restaurant

overall night shot

My parents are in town right now, and although the weather is awful and the museums all throughout Paris are now on strike, I enjoy seeing them, spending time with them, and hanging around Paris to appreciate my last days here. I really missed them, but I also feel like it's been two weeks since I saw them last. We went on a boat tour down the Seine today which was awesome. I was exposed to actual barge restaurants on the Seine, and got to see all the monuments in Paris I visited throughout my stay here. I know the next two weeks are going to be hard as they wind down, however I really will NOT take anything for granted. I plan to make them the best of my trip! I am headed to Dublin on Sunday with friends, which I'm entirely looking forward to. I am going with Priyanka, Mariana, Trey, and we're meeting my friend Paul again! (from our London adventures) I'll definitely tell my tales from that trip when I get back, as well as a reflection entry during my last days here. I am looking forward to seeing everyone when I come home, but for now I still have a little less than two weeks left! Gotta get as much in as I can!

B